Panasonic GX1 vs Sony NEX-5N
87 Imaging
51 Features
54 Overall
52


89 Imaging
56 Features
69 Overall
61
Panasonic GX1 vs Sony NEX-5N Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 160 - 12800
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 318g - 116 x 68 x 39mm
- Introduced February 2012
- Renewed by Panasonic GX7
(Full Review)
- 16MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Display
- ISO 100 - 25600
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony E Mount
- 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
- Revealed October 2011
- Replaced the Sony NEX-5
- Later Model is Sony NEX-5R

Panasonic GX1 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview
Lets look closer at the Panasonic GX1 and Sony NEX-5N, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by companies Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the GX1 (16MP) and the NEX-5N (16MP) is very well matched but the GX1 (Four Thirds) and NEX-5N (APS-C) use totally different sensor size.

The GX1 was brought out 5 months after the NEX-5N and they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).
Before delving through a in-depth comparison, below is a brief summation of how the GX1 grades vs the NEX-5N when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Panasonic GX1 vs Sony NEX-5N Gallery
This is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 & Sony Alpha NEX-5N. The entire galleries are provided at Panasonic GX1 Gallery & Sony NEX-5N Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic GX1 over the Sony NEX-5N
GX1 | NEX-5N |
---|
Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Panasonic GX1
NEX-5N | GX1 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting display |
Display resolution | 920k | ![]() | 460k | Sharper display (+460k dot) |
Common features in the Panasonic GX1 and Sony NEX-5N
GX1 | NEX-5N | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Revealed | February 2012 | ![]() | October 2011 | Similar age |
Manually focus | ![]() | Dial accurate focusing | ||
Display sizing | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Equivalent display size |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither offers selfie screen | ||
Touch display | ![]() | Easily navigate |
Panasonic GX1 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison
For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic GX1 offers outside measurements of 116mm x 68mm x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") having a weight of 318 grams (0.70 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5N has specifications of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).
Compare the Panasonic GX1 and Sony NEX-5N in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the GX1 against the NEX-5N.

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the GX1 and NEX-5N is 87 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic GX1 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison
In many cases, it can be tough to envision the difference between sensor sizes merely by checking technical specs. The picture here should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the GX1 and NEX-5N.
As you have seen, each of these cameras offer the same exact MP but not the same sensor sizes. The GX1 provides the tinier sensor which should make getting shallow depth of field tougher.

Panasonic GX1 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GX1 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 | Sony Alpha NEX-5N | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Panasonic | Sony |
Model type | Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 | Sony Alpha NEX-5N |
Class | Entry-Level Mirrorless | Entry-Level Mirrorless |
Introduced | 2012-02-14 | 2011-10-03 |
Body design | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor | Venus Engine FHD | Bionz |
Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | Four Thirds | APS-C |
Sensor measurements | 17.3 x 13mm | 23.4 x 15.6mm |
Sensor area | 224.9mm² | 365.0mm² |
Sensor resolution | 16MP | 16MP |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Max resolution | 4592 x 3448 | 4912 x 3264 |
Max native ISO | 12800 | 25600 |
Lowest native ISO | 160 | 100 |
RAW format | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focusing | ||
AF touch | ||
AF continuous | ||
Single AF | ||
AF tracking | ||
Selective AF | ||
AF center weighted | ||
Multi area AF | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detect focusing | ||
Contract detect focusing | ||
Phase detect focusing | ||
Total focus points | 23 | 25 |
Lens | ||
Lens support | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E |
Available lenses | 107 | 121 |
Focal length multiplier | 2.1 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fixed Type | Tilting |
Display sizing | 3 inch | 3 inch |
Resolution of display | 460 thousand dot | 920 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch functionality | ||
Display tech | TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle | Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | Electronic (optional) | Electronic (optional) |
Features | ||
Min shutter speed | 60 secs | 30 secs |
Max shutter speed | 1/4000 secs | 1/4000 secs |
Continuous shutter speed | 4.0 frames/s | 10.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Change WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Integrated flash | ||
Flash distance | 7.60 m | 12.00 m |
Flash options | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in |
Hot shoe | ||
AEB | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Max flash sync | 1/160 secs | 1/160 secs |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (60 fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps) | 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Max video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
Video format | MPEG-4, AVCHD | AVCHD |
Microphone jack | ||
Headphone jack | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | Eye-Fi Connected |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environmental seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 318 grams (0.70 lb) | 269 grams (0.59 lb) |
Dimensions | 116 x 68 x 39mm (4.6" x 2.7" x 1.5") | 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall rating | 55 | 77 |
DXO Color Depth rating | 20.8 | 23.6 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | 10.6 | 12.7 |
DXO Low light rating | 703 | 1079 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 300 photographs | 460 photographs |
Battery form | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | - | NPFW50 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Storage media | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
Storage slots | One | One |
Cost at release | $228 | $550 |